Inclusive diversity, dialogue, and innovation

Ali Madanipour

The 4th International Conference on Creative Cities: Cultural Impact on the Territory and the Economy of Cities, Kreanta Foundation & CentroCentro, Madrid City Council, 24-26 November 2011, Madrid

• Collapse of two development models

• State-led compromise model

• Market-led competitive model

• A new civil society-led model for economic development?

• ‘creating value by basing growth on knowledge’

• Science and technology

• Cultural and creative activities

Innovation based on dialogue & diversity

• Innovation as generation of new ideas, products and practices

• Innovation through dialogue

• Meeting of minds, interaction of diversity

• What forms of difference and what forms of dialogue?

What forms of dialogue?

1. Mediated Dialogue: technology

• Immaterial, intangible, aspatial?

• Continued significance of spatial concentration

2. Immediate dialogue: face-to-face, place-based

• Innovative clusters

• Science parks, cultural quarters, educational districts, etc.

Clustering and fragmentation

• Clustering through market, or public policy

• Land use zoning

• Suburban character

• Branded urban districts

• Commercialization of science and culture, located in designated places

What forms of diversity?

• Hierarchical, two-tier society, partitioned space

• Retrofit for the elite

• Inclusive notion of diversity

• Human effort as the source of all value

• Spatial and institutional public realm

• Consumerism and diversity

Diversity and identity

• From superficial to deep

• Advertising and experience economy

• Inward-looking and tribalism

• Similarities and differences

• Globalization and local distinctions

• Particular local compositions as the basis of dynamic and adaptive identities

Innovation through inclusive interface

• Broad understanding of social difference

• Innovation through inclusive and open forums of interaction

• Public realm, response to laissez-faire

• Mobilizing recognition as a social force

• Avoidance of functionalist elite enclaves

• Inclusive and democratic local compositions